The Secret Splendour

Bharata

(The Ramayana tells how Bharata, a brother of Rama—by another wife of Dasaratha's—and an extreme devotee of his avatarhood, was sorely grieved to learn that Rama had been sent into exile and that he himself was to succeed to the throne owing to an unfortunate promise made by Dasaratha to Bharata's mother. He set out to find Rama and after a strenuous journey reached his goal. He fell at Rama's feet, but Rama lifted him up and embraced him, yet while appreciating his devotion exhorted him to stand by the word of their father. Bharata surrendered his will to Rama's and returned to the capital; but he took with him Rama's sandals and placed them on the throne to rule in his stead.)

Sandals of the great Wanderer's feet rest here—

Calm on the desolate throne, still as the Spirit

That moves not with the moving universe

But, imperturbable, bears the toil of Time,

The ache of heavenly feet through a wilderness

Of worlds that Truth may live and laugh in the dust!

Here in this kingdom's vigilant heart I place

Twin lamps—the quiet sandals touched by the heat

Of God's pure trample on His own wide power!

Rule, while the Lord's bleeding and beggar steps

Go printing deep His love on forest paths

Tangled with wry desires and shadowed over

By titan clutchings at the glow of heaven:

Rule without stir and light each soul to peace!

13.7.42

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